First ever women BSF to man Indian borders

Jammu: India's first ever woman border security forces (BSF) battalion will be commissioned from July 25 to man the borders.

Director General of BSF M L Kumawat said that the force will be deployed on the borders for frisking, checking and seizures. He also added that it will help curb narcotics smuggling, women child trafficking and trans-border crimes. The force will also deployed for night patrolling in some areas too. This comes after fresh trouble in the Sir Creek area, where regular incursions by the Pakistan marines and fishermen have been reported till last month.

While addressing a press conference in Jammu, Kumawat also said that the strength of the BSF is to be increased by 35,000 troopers by July 25.Kumawat said that despite the "dangerous" situation in Pakistan, "our strong vigil has assured safe borders".

He said that after the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, "there was heavy build up like situation at the border on the Pakistani side but we did not get provoked."

India had been able to maintain calm on the borders, he added.

Kumawat said that the BSF was raising its strength by 35,000 troopers including a women's battalion "which is being raised July 25".

Commenting on the recent news report of militants planning to dig a tunnel from Pakistan into India the DG said: "It was not feasible that 30 to 40 militants will dig such long tunnel unless they have help of others."

Kumawat said that there had been incidents of incursions in Sir Creek area of the border between India and Pakistan in Gujarat, but the BSF had been able to push it back.